Introduction On June 14, 2024, the Superior Court of Québec issued a decision1 interpreting section 938.1.2.2 of the Municipal Code of Québec, which came into force in 2019. This provision gives a person interested in participating in the awarding process the opportunity to file a preliminary complaint about a requirement in the tender documents that they believe does not ensure the honest and fair treatment of tenderers ...
The Welsh Government has given some insight into its direction of travel in terms of implementing the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) in Wales with the publication of the Building Safety Act 2022 Handbook for Wales Design and Construction Phase. This confirms that the BSA will be implemented in Wales in phases. The handbook summarises the work that has commenced in the first stage including: defining what is a higher-risk building in Wales for the design and construction phase ...
Shoosmiths hosts a panel discussion examining Greater Manchester's Places for Everyone spatial strategy following its formal adoption, focusing on the transition from the strategy phase to implementation and delivery. Places for Everyone was formally adopted on 21 March 2024 after a decade in the making ...
Following the adoption of Greater Manchester's Places for Everyone strategy, Shoosmiths brought together real estate experts for a roundtable discussion on approaches to new development, redevelopment, renewable energy provision, and decarbonisation. Greater Manchester has raised the bar for new commercial and residential development in recent years, with cranes now a permanent fixture on a skyline famous for high-rises and construction projects ...
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in a case that may have far reaching implications for businesses facing consumer protection claims in the state. The Court has granted allocator in Halpern v. Ricoh U.S.A., Inc ...
Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit provided a cautionary tale for trade secret owners who seek preliminary relief against a competitor who hires its former employees but do not clearly articulate the trade secrets the owner seeks to protect. In early 2023, Insulet Corp. sued EOFlow Co. in the District of Massachusetts for misappropriating trade secrets supposedly obtained from employees EOFlow hired away from Insulet years earlier ...
****Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!**** The authorities in Russia and the rest of the world have recently been paying more and more attention to data protection issues ...
In a judgment decided on the 26th of June 2024 in the names Marcus Scicluna Marshall et vs Michael Borg Cardona, the Court of Appeal in its Inferior Jurisdiction confirmed that no appeal can be filed from the rate established by the Rent Regulation Board to increase the rent for leases predating the year 1995 ...
Today marks a pivotal shift towards a more pro-development approach. This recognises the importance of creating more quality, sustainable, and mixed-tenure homes, boosting residential supply across the UK, and understanding that this is central to delivering the economic growth the country needs. The reinstatement of mandatory housing targets and the strengthening of devolution powers are crucial first steps in accelerating housing provision. If the government aims to meet its 1 ...
The Chancellor’s statement on 8 July 2024 stated that mandatory housing targets will be restored as part of the reform of the National Planning Policy Framework in England and Wales. This is expected to be included in the King’s speech on 17 July. The planning regime in Scotland is devolved and it is the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) that applies. Challenges and court cases followed the publication of NPF4 in February 2023 ...
The Supreme Court has decided that most collateral warranties will not be construction contracts and unanimously allowed the appeal of the Court of Appeal decision in Abbey Healthcare (Mill Hill) Limited v Simply Construct (UK) LLP [2022]. Background Under s.108 of the Housing Grants, Construction & Regeneration Act 1996 (Construction Act), parties to a construction contract have a right to refer disputes arising under those contracts to adjudication ...
Businesses throughout the United States have been monitoring the lawsuit filed by Ryan LLC, which challenges the legality of the Federal Trade Commission’s ("FTC") Non-Compete Rule (the “Rule”). The Rule is scheduled to take effect on September 4, 2024. It makes most existing non-compete agreements unenforceable and prohibits new agreements except in limited circumstances. On July 3, 2024, the U.S ...
Introduction On July 2, 2024, the Superior Court rendered a decision in Lallier c. Société d?assurance Beneva inc.,1 ruling on an insured?s claim against his insurer for an insurance benefit further to a loss, as the insurer had denied coverage, alleging the insured?s intentional fault. Despite the absence of hard evidence of the insured?s intentional fault, the Court ruled in favour of the insurer based on evidence established by presumption ...
As previously reported, on April 24, the Federal Trade Commission passed a Final Rule that would render almost all non-compete agreements with workers unlawful, effective September 4, 2024. However, a recent decision from the Northern District of Texas blocked enforcement of that Rule for a short list of litigants and casts doubt on the Rule’s enforcement in the future ...
The much-anticipated Court of Appeal judgment in C.G.Fry & Son Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] EWCA Civ 730 was handed down on Friday 28 June 2024. It dismissed the appeal on all three grounds. The case was centred on the widespread issue of developments being required to demonstrate that they are ‘nutrient neutral’, so as not to add nutrient load on designated habitats ...
The Supreme Court has overturned the Chevron Doctrine–a four decade-old ruling that enabled Federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), to interpret ambiguous laws passed by Congress, and to have such interpretations enjoy a significant degree of deference ...
Administrative law has long had a reputation for boredom. But three blockbuster cases out of the Supreme Court last week have changed that. Each case is its own game changer, but together, the three cases are a sea change in an area of law typically known for consistency. Three things you need to know: In Ohio v. EPA, the Supreme Court stayed the EPA’s enforcement of a federal clean air plan covering more than 20 states ...
Shoosmiths brings together leading developers, asset managers and investors, as well as energy, planning, policy and legal experts, for a roundtable discussion on overcoming power supply challenges to support the delivery of innovative and resilient developments that balance financial and environmental objectives ...
The federal government has announced a new policy that will grant a path to work authorization and legal status for the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. The policy, which is known as “parole in place” or “PIP,” is expected to be similar to the existing PIP program in effect for family members of U.S. military personnel ...
Whilst the impact of the upcoming general election remains to be seen, the Government has recently proposed scrapping the Commercial Agents Regulations for new agency arrangements. Background The Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (CAR) implement the Commercial Agents Directive (86/653/EEC) (Directive) ...
On 23 May, the Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No.3 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 were signed, setting out the confirmed go-live date of the Procurement Act of 28 October 2024. On 24 May, the Cabinet Office published the latest tranche of its official guidance on the Procurement Act. The Cabinet Office has arranged the guidance documents under the four stages of the commercial pathway: Plan; Define; Procure; Manage ...
On June 17, 2024, the Chilean Comptroller General of the Republic ("Comptroller") approved DS No. 13 of 2022, of the Ministry of Energy ("Decree"), which (i) amends the regulation of gas installers; and (ii) approves the Safety Regulation of Hydrogen Installations (the "Regulation"). Following the approval by the Comptroller, the decree will enter into force once it has been published in the Official Gazette, notwithstanding the transitory provisions regulated therein ...
On 12 June 2024, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published its final report, ‘Railway Station Catering Market Study’. It evaluates the effectiveness of competition in station catering and whether the market is delivering value for money for passengers and taxpayers. The ORR has identified barriers to competition, such as limited space and protected leases ...
In a unanimous decision today, the Supreme Court rejected efforts to limit access to the abortion pill mifepristone, overturning an earlier decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court ruled that the physicians and medical associations who brought the case did not have the right to challenge the FDA's regulation of the drug. To have standing, plaintiffs must show they have a “personal stake” in the case ...